Contents

In 1975, Tony Tan Caktiong and his family opened a Magnolia Ice Cream parlor in Cubao, Quezon City.[5][6] In 1978, he and his siblings engaged the services of a management consultant, Manuel C. Lumba, who shifted the business focus from ice cream to hot dogs after his studies showed a much larger market waiting to be served.[5] Lumba was Tan's last business and management mentor.

The company acquired 80% of Greenwich Pizza in 1994. From a 50-branch operation, Greenwich gradually established a strong presence in the food service industry. In early 2006, Jollibee Foods Corp. bought out the remaining shares of its partners in Greenwich Pizza Corp., equivalent to a 20% stake, for P384 million in cash.[10] In 1996, Jollibee became the sole franchisee of Délifrance for Philippines, staying in operation in the country until late 2010. In 2000, the company acquired Chowking, a Chinese fast food restaurant, thus making Jollibee a part of the Asian quick service restaurant segment.[11][12]

In 2004, Jollibee acquired Chinese fast food chain Yonghe Dawang for $22.5 million. Jollibee entered into a joint-venture contract with US-based Chow Fun Holdings LLC, the developer and owner of Jinja Bar Bistro in New Mexico, in which Jollibee will have a 12% stake for $950,000.[13][14][15] In 2005, Jollibee acquired Red Ribbon, a bakeshop business in the Philippines. In less than 5 years, Jollibee managed to nurture the business and transform it into a popular and rapidly growing bakeshop chain. In 2006, Jollibee purchased 70% of Taipei restaurant Lao Dong in June and Chun Shui Tang tea house. In 2007, Jollibee acquired the Chinese fast-food chain Hongzhuangyuan.[16]

On August 26, 2008, Jollibee formally signed a P2.5 billion ($55.5 million) deal with Beijing-based Hong Zhuang Yuan through its wholly owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. The sale is subject to the approval of China's Ministry of Commerce. On October 19, 2010, Jollibee acquired 70% share of Mang Inasal, a Filipino food chain specializing in barbecued chicken, for P3 billion ($68.8 million).[17][18][19] The same month, Jollibee signed a deal to acquire 55 percent of China's Guangxi San Ping Wang Food and Beverage Management Co. Ltd., operators of the San Pin Wang beef noodle business for 30 million RMB.[20] On October 2011, Jollibee acquired a 54% stake in BK Titans, Inc., the sole franchisee of Burger King in the Philippines.[21]

In 2011, Jollibee opened 260 new stores, of which 167 were in the Philippines led by Mang Inasal (86) and Jollibee (40). This brought the company's total number of stores to 2,001 as of end December 2011. The same year, Jollibee closed Manong Pepe foodchain in favor of Mang Inasal,[22] and sold Délifrance to CaféFrance.[23] Overseas, Jollibee opened 93 stores, led by Yonghe King in China (70) and Jollibee Vietnam (11). In 2013, Jollibee opened its first store in Virginia Beach, Virginia as well as in Houston, Texas.[24] Both locations were chosen for their strong Filipino presence.

Jollibee is an American-style fast food restaurant with Filipino-influenced dishes specializing in burgers, spaghetti, chicken and some local Filipino dishes. In the Philippines, Jollibee serves Coca-Cola products for its beverages; in overseas markets, the chain serves Pepsi products.

Jollibee started with five branches in 1978 and has grown to a strong network of a total of 801 stores in the country, and 96 stores internationally. In total, Jollibee has 896 stores worldwide as of November 2013. It is the largest fast food chain in the country with international locations in Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States.[29] The fast food chain plans to open branches in Canada, United Arab Emirates,[30][31]Malaysia,[26]Indonesia,[26] and Japan.[32] Likewise, Jollibee is open to plans to open a branch in Europe due to popular demand according to Jollibee President and CEO, Tony Tan Caktiong but says that such plans is not currently prioritized.[33][34][35] However, It was later reported in March 2015 that Jollibee plans to expand to Europe through an unspecified country within 2017-2018.[32]

In Hong Kong, there is currently one branch located in Central, which was renovated in 2013. The opening of a second branch in the city is currently under consideration.

As of end-September 2012, Jollibee was operating 2,040 stores in the Philippines for all of its brands: 765 for Jollibee, 383 for Chowking, 201 for Greenwich, 209 for Red Ribbon, 457 for Mang Inasal and 25 for Burger King.

Jollibee had former branches in Taiwan, China and the United Arab Emirates. Jollibee launched its first branch in Taiwan in 1986, also its first branch outside the Philippines.[37] Jollibee launched its first mainland China branch in Xiamen in 1998 but later closed in 2001. Jollibee focused on acquiring already popular restaurant chains in China.[33] Jollibee launched its first branch in Dubai in 1995 but was later closed for unknown reasons.[2] Jollibee previously had branches in Malaysia and Indonesia but were later closed down due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.[26][38]

Jollibee, the large bee mascot dressed in a blazer, shirt, and chef's hat introduced by the brand in 1980 is probably the most widely recognized character in the Philippines. Mascots Yum, Hetty, Popo, Twirlie changed their appearance since 2009.[39]

On April 13, 2008, a children's television program called Jollitown was launched by Jollibee and friends. The timing was chosen to highlight Jollibee’s 30th anniversary. Jollibee and his friends Yum the scientist, Twirlie the star performer, Hetty The chearleader and Popo the gym coach are the stars of the show, which airs Sundays, 9:30 a.m. or 8:00 on GMA Network.[40] On July 17, 2011, Jollitown moved to ABS-CBN for its 4th and 5th season every Sunday at 9 am (every Sunday). On July 20, 2013, the show moved back to GMA for The Jollitown Kids Show or Jollitown Season 6.

Jollibee has won many accolades. It has consistently been mentioned as one of the Philippines' and Asia's most admired companies in surveys conducted by publications such as Asian Business Magazine and The Asian Wall Street Journal and has received other plaudits from Euromoney and Asia Money. In 2008, it was also the recipient of the FMCG and F & B Asia Pacific Supply Chain Excellence Award at the SCM Logistics Excellence Awards.[6][41][42]

In December 2004 as the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Jollibee Group Foundation, also known as the Jollibee Foundation was established by Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) to make giving back an organized corporate commitment. The Foundation aims to invest in the local people and help them to succeed.

Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) is a school feeding program that addresses hunger among Grades 1 and 2 pupils and helps them to stay in school by keeping them fit and healthy. With nationwide operations, Jollibee store employees visit nearby schools and conduct orientation to teachers and parents on proper food preparation and food safety. They also work with the local government units, the Department of Education and private sector partners in monitoring the feeding activity and ensuring program sustainability. The presence of Jollibee stores all over the country and other partnerships enabled the Foundation to expand the program to 450 schools in school year 2011-2012, feeding more than 25,000 pupils since BLT started in 2007.

^"Restaurant chain trains staff, bags corporate social responsibility award". Cebu (Sun.Star Publishing, Inc.). bee and that the listed food giant has the exclusive rights to operate Délifrance outlets in the country. "The acquisition involved a restructuring of all advances by Jollibee and Délifrance Asia amounting to P130 million into equity," a public statement said. Jollibee added that the strong sales posted by Délifrance encouraged it to buy out its partner.

^Arcibal, Cheryl M. "Jollibee group buys out partner in Delifrance". BUSINESS (The Manila Times Internet Edition ss/20061111bus4.html).|accessdate= requires |url= (help)